Women of Promise

      As most of you well know, we are prepping and planning for our annual VBS! It is so beautiful to see the children having fun as they learn the Bible and interact with each other and the leaders every year.  As a church, it is lovely to watch so many work together for a common mission: sharing the gospel message.     The Bible has much to say about children.  Luke 18 tells us that Jesus had a very special spot in his heart for children.  He gives a command and a clue about the beauty of His Kingdom: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."    Luke 18:16      Service to children is service to Jesus.  He calls us to serve and love these little ones, because He loves them!  Torey reminded us of this at VBS training this year and this truth lived out is what separates true Christians from imposters.      As a church, we are blessed with l...

Source: Billy Graham on Twitter: 2/1/17          Do you ever wake up drained -- exhausted before the day even begins?  Do you ever want to bury your head in the pillow and hide from everyone and everything?  I have heard it called sensory overload, or "needing a mental health day," and other similar things.  Sometimes as a mom, the children pour out their needs and I just don't seem to have anything to give, even for the most simple of requests.  My patience may run thin and I snap over a minor infraction.  Even worse, I may not correct them when they need correction because I "can't deal with it right now."  Sound familiar?  It may be a different source for you that causes you to feel that your "cup has run dry."  Perhaps it is work, friends, or other family members that seem to drain you.  Have you ever heard the phrase, "You can't pour from an empty cup?"  Where do you go when your cup is dry?  Do you tur...

    Wherefore come out from among t hem, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,  2 Corinthians 6:17   I have often heard this verse taken out of context from the pulpit over the years. It has been used to dictate minutia regarding appearances and lifestyle. Some have even taken this as living in almost complete isolation from the world as much as possible. This is often taught in a manner akin to legalism, which places faith in actions rather than the finished work of Christ on the cross. In learning what legalism is, my fleshly reaction was to bounce in the opposite direction from that teaching as a young adult. That was equally in error. I pray that I am slowly understanding more of what God was saying through Paul to the church of Corinth.     First, it is always important to understand the context of any verse that is being studied.  Paul was calling the believers of Corinth to separate themselves from the idol worship that was rampant in their c...

  Oh, magnify the  LORD   with me, and let us exalt his name together ! Psalm 34:3   I remember a fun little vacation my sisters and I spent with my aunt and uncle one summer on Tim's Ford Lake. My uncle would take us out to the far ends of the lake in his pontoon boat and we would jump out into the lake and swim. We had a blast swimming in the shadows of that big boat. It's overarching presence gave us comfort and we never once were concerned about how to get home -- because my sisters and I certainly had no clue where we were. However we had complete faith in my uncle, the captain of his ship, and that big boat's glorious presence was what we looked to for reassurance. We were in awe of that boat, and the times we were able to go out in it were major highlights of that trip.    That little illustration came to mind as I was meditating on some truths about servant leadership that God led me to recently. As we learn to serve God and each other, what is it t...

  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.   Romans 1:20 Not long ago, I came across a short  devotional based on the protein called laminin.  This protein is a binding protein that is essential to life -- basically it holds every molecule of our bodies together.  It also "happens" to be shaped like a cross and has a construction of three strands that are wound together to form its shape. How fascinating is that? Could this have just "happened"? Extremely unlikely. Furthermore, Scripture tells us that the creation points us to the Creator. We are right to seek out these proofs of God's omnipotence and marvel. I love to find the gospel displayed in nature!  I did have to take issue with the devotional on its application.  Maybe it was a technicality, but we must be super aware of anything...

            One weight-loss method that has gained a lot of attention is "intermittent fasting."  Some medical professionals are saying that when done on a regular basis this practice has significant health benefits.     Did you know that the Bible has a lot to say about feasting and fasting? Did you know that these practices are spiritual in context? The very first sin involved food. Revelation talks about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in chapter 19. In between these two events the law prescribes times of feasting and of restraint. We are given examples from Moses, Elijah, Ezra, Esther, David, Daniel, Anna, Jesus and Paul who fasted for specific times of prayer.      Often we talk about times of fasting from things (social media or sugar, for example). Anything that is done for the purpose of bringing our focus more fully on God's Word is beneficial. It is also good to note that fasting is not a prescribed thing in Scri...

       This is the week leading up to the Sunday known as "Easter Sunday."  In both Latin and Greek, this is Pascha, or "Resurrection Sunday."  Since at least the second century, A.D., (but most likely even earlier) Christians have observed this celebration of Jesus' resurrection.  What a gripping and powerful event this was! Because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we have eternal life! This event proved that Jesus is the Messiah -- the promised Savior!      As we celebrate this glorious event, we often recall the detailed events leading up to that glorious event when the stone is rolled away and tomb is found empty.  I have been challenged this season to look at not only what  the Resurrection is, but who  the Resurrection is.  You see, Jesus says in John 11:25:  I am the Resurrection and the life .  He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.      The Resurrection is...